Cat stood with Anders watching as the last of the fire went out. They hadn't wanted to leave until the fire was spent, and so Fenris and Hawke had stayed as well until it was done.

Now, as they were preparing to leave, Hawke went to speak to Sebastian and the Grand Cleric, to thank them for what they had done for his crew.

Cat took the opportunity to study him as he interacted with others, not really certain what she was looking for. She had been thinking about this all night, and had finally come to a conclusion- of sorts.

"Guys?" she asked quietly, and the two standing next to her looked her way. "Do you think that it would be wrong to be involved… uh, romantically? With someone here in Thedas?"

She could practically feel their eyebrows rise up in surprise, but she kept her eyes elsewhere, so she couldn't be totally sure.

"Why would you think it wrong?" Fenris asked.

"I mean, if I don't tell him… you know, about me. Where I'm from… all that."

"You would want to hold a piece of yourself back?" Anders asked. "Don't you feel that would be difficult? Or deceptive even?"

"I guess that's why I'm asking," she said uncomfortably. "After everything that happened with Steven, I thought it would be better to be alone, you know, just my friends, nothing serious again." She glanced up to them, one and then the other.

"But?" they asked in unison, then gave each other a look, that had Cat chuckling.

"But," she conceded with a nod. "I've been feeling… lately… that maybe, I'm ready to try again? Maybe. Possibly."

"You don't sound so sure," Anders teased her with a smile.

"Did you have someone in mind?" Fenris asked seriously.

"I have to approve of him," Anders quickly added. "So definitely not the Knight Captain," he said, to which Fenris said nothing, but Cat thought he may have been wanting to say the same about giving approval.

Cat smiled at them, loving how they were letting her talk about this at her own pace. "It reminds me of before, when we kissed, remember?" she asked Fenris, though they both nodded. "I was feeling confused because Issy was trying to convince me that I was overlooking something great just because you were my friends."

"So…" Anders started, "you think you are doing that, without knowing it?"

"Maybe?" she said uncertainly.

There was a booming laugh, and the three of them turned to the sound, seeing Hawke and Sebastian laughing, while the Grand Cleric didn't look as amused. Fenris and Anders both turned back to Cat, then back to Hawke, the contemplation turning into a smirk on each of their faces.

"What's that look for?" she asked, not liking what was happening.

"Finding out could be as simple as a kiss," Fenris said, the corner of his lips upturned.

"I'm… kind of scared," she admitted.

"He's still going to be your friend," Anders said gently.

"Yeah, I'm more scared about it being the other thing," she muttered. She shrugged a little helplessly at their expressions. "You know, where it leads…"

"It doesn't lead anywhere you don't want it to," Anders replied.

"Hawke would not-" Fenris began, and Cat quickly interrupted because he was getting the wrong idea.

"It's not that…" she said, glancing around quickly. "I… uh…" she didn't want to actually admit it out loud, but, she wanted them to understand, and maybe… just maybe, they could help. Covering her face with her hands as she blushed, she mumbled, "I don't like sex."

While Anders' eyes flew wide open in shock, Fenris' eyes narrowed in suspicion. Both of them came closer, to speak in hushed tones.

"What do you mean?!" Anders hissed. "Seriously?!"

"Did something happen? Did someone force you?" Fenris demanded, though as gently as he could.

Cat sighed, wondering why she even said anything. "No, nothing like that. I just don't get what the big deal is." Two sets of eyes were narrowed now, as they were beginning to understand.

"Honey," Anders said as he rubbed her arm. "If you're asking that, then that good for nothing husband didn't do his job."

She looked up, skeptical. "Look, I really don't want to talk about this, I just wanted you to understand why I'm so hesitant."

"We understand," Fenris said, cutting Anders off with a look, and Cat's face shone with gratitude. He truly did understand not wanting to speak of things, even if he wanted to wholeheartedly agree with the healer. They would just be there for her if and when she was ready.

"But the point remains," Anders said, still upset with Fenris for cutting him off. "Nothing happens unless you want it to. And if the guy thinks differently, you kick him in the balls until he gets the message."

Cat laughed at that, enjoying the mental of image of a man on the ground yelling, 'I get it, I get the message!'

Hawke decided to join them then, asking, "shall we go? And what's so funny?" he asked Cat.

"Kicking a guy in the balls repeatedly," she replied cheerily.

Hawke gave her a pained look, wondering what had brought that subject up, then just shook his head. I don't think I want to know… he thought.

"Are you certain you want me to stay at your house, Hawke?" Anders asked again, as they exited the chantry. "It could be trouble for you and your mother, you know."

"Not any more trouble than I currently have," Hawke replied. "There is plenty of room, my friend. You are welcome as long as you need."

"Cat?" Anders asked. "Can you stay over again?"

Cat looked at Hawke and saw his nod, so she agreed. "But you have to wear clothes if you're going to share my bed," she warned.

"Is that a general rule?" Fenris asked, watching Hawke's reaction, and was pleased to see a disgruntled look on his face.

"For you and Anders, definitely," Cat replied with a laugh.

"Well then, I had better go get some clothes, I don't want to continue to steal from Hawke," Anders said in a falsely cheery voice, and Cat glanced at him warily.

"Cat will need some as well," Fenris added. "I will go home and fetch them."

"I'll go with you," Cat said, and Fenris just shook his head.

"It is better to travel in pairs, this time of night," he said. "I will go with the… uh, Anders, you stay with Hawke."

Cat looked at them skeptically, and though she could see what they were doing, they both tried to play it off, so she rolled her eyes and let them. After all, they were sticking together, even though they didn't really like each other, and it didn't happen very often.

"All right," she said, with a small shake of her head. "I could use a change of clothes, I suppose, though it didn't seem like Hawke minded sharing."

"You say sharing, but we both know you," Anders teased. "You never give them back."

Hawke raised an eyebrow at her, and she just smiled. "They are the only ones that Issy won't steal," she said by way of explanation. "Because they're too big."

"We'll meet you at the house," Anders said, as the two of them separated from Hawke and Cat, and she gave a little wave, while inwardly she told herself to be brave.

"You're good for them," Hawke said.

"What, those two?" Cat asked. "I don't know about that. They aren't exactly bosom buddies."

"I… am not sure what that means, exactly…" he said with a glance at her. "But you are a link between them, without which I am sure it would be much worse."

Cat thought back to her game where Fenris called Anders an abomination, and Anders referred to Fenris as savage. "I guess you may be right," she replied.

"Of course I am," he said with a roll of his eyes at her, and she made a noise of disgust.

"Don't get full of yourself," she teased. "It doesn't happen as often as you think it does."

"You wound me," he said dramatically, and she laughed.

"So," he began, changing the subject. "You three looked to be having quite the discussion earlier… I admit I'm curious."

She glanced at him and answered, "you and Sebastian seemed to be having a good time as well."

He nodded, then smirked. "Tell you mine, if you tell me yours?" he offered.

"You first," she countered.

"It's not that amusing I'm afraid," he said. "The Grand Cleric told a joke, I think, and Sebastian was doing that false laugh that he does when he doesn't think it is funny-"

"Oh the one everyone does when you tell a joke?" she added, "Ha-ha, ha-ha!" she laughed so badly it was obviously fake.

Hawke narrowed his gaze at her in mock offense. "Something like that, yeah…" he muttered. "Anyway, so then Seb keeps up with that awful laugh, which of course made me actually laugh… and so on, and so on…" he drawled. "The worst part is, I can't even remember the joke!"

Cat chuckled along at the absurdity of the whole situation.

"Your turn," Hawke reminded her.

"Oh, it was nothing much," she replied. "I just asked their opinions on relationships."

Hawke glanced at her, his eyebrow winged up. "One in particular, or in general?"

"General. I mean, most of the time, it can seem like too much trouble, but it can be nice too."

"Too much trouble?" he asked pointedly.

"Well, I mean, inevitably you fight. That's not fun. Doing things you don't like to, because they insist… or having people judge you because they think you aren't good enough for the other person."

"Wow… uh, that's just… wow."

"What?" she asked, brow furrowed.

"It just makes me wonder what your past relationships have been like, if you're thinking like that."

"Oh… well, so… wait. Yours aren't like that?"

"Uh, no not really," he shrugged. "But then again, I haven't exactly had anything you could call, 'long term'."

"What would you call it then?," she asked pointedly.

"So what did those two have to say?" he asked, dodging the question.

"That I should give it a chance," she answered with a smirk, letting him off the hook. "Though they did say they had to approve of whoever it was."

"Oh?" he asked. "So friends have a vote in this?"

"Well, no," she said with a smile. "But ultimately, if they don't like the person, there's bound to be a reason, I suppose, and no, being a templar doesn't count."

"Hmm," he said with a smirk.

"It is tough though," she continued. "I was friends with Steven for a while, and he's the one who decided he wanted more than that." She wrinkled her nose in a look of distaste. "I have no idea where to even start the whole… process." She looked at him hopefully.

"I may technically be noble now, but I don't have a clue about courting rituals," he replied with a shrug.

She looked at him, thinking, and told herself, brave! Be brave! He gave her a questioning look in return, and she steeled herself with a deep breath. "Can I ask you something personal?" she asked.

"I suppose," he said slowly, a little wary of where this would go.

"When a man shows interest… what can I say if I want to pursue something, but don't want to just jump to the bedroom? And don't want to upset him?"

He smirked at her again, stopping her as they had reached his home. He pulled her aside, wanting to keep whatever this was private.

She was flushed, but he had to admit he enjoyed her embarrassment more than he should have. It seemed to happen all too often around him. "You think there is something you can say so a man won't be upset when he finds out you won't sleep with him?" he said with a small smile.

She took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to keep calm, though she could feel her face burning. She rubbed a hand over her face. "I'm not saying it right…" she muttered.

He stepped closer, and she had to tilt her head slightly to look at him. His voice was soft and low, and she bit her lip to keep from saying anything else. He watched as she swallowed nervously, and then nodded. "It's hard to say," he answered. "Everyone is different, there isn't just one right answer."

"So," she said, choosing her words carefully. "If it were you? Wouldn't there have been a right answer back then?" she asked, her eyes darting in every direction, unable to stay focused on him.

He reached up and took her chin, forcing her to look at him. "I don't know," he said. "Would there have been a right answer?"

"Back then?" she whispered. "I don't know…" Her heart was racing again, but this time, she couldn't focus on anything but his eyes on hers.

"What about now?" he asked, whispering in return, his face mere inches from hers. His hand on her face was the only place he was touching her, and when he heard her breath catch, and saw her shiver, he barely held his smug smirk back. "Cold?" he asked.

He stepped back only enough to shift to her side, and pulled her towards the door to his home. "Let's go in," he suggested. "I want to continue this conversation."

Cat let herself be pulled along, wondering what he meant by that.

She wasn't aware of much as they walked in, but the noise quickly snapped her out of it, and she side stepped away from Hawke.

"Get off your high horse! I have problems too!"

"Oh really? Like what? Who's the father?"

"WHY YOU LITTLE!"

"Ladies, ladies!" Hawke bellowed, sounding royally pissed. "What are you doing here?!" he demanded of Aveline and Isabela as they stood arguing in his front room. They both turned to speak to him.

"Hawke, I need your help," Aveline started quickly, stepping forward. "The Arishok is harboring two fugitives that have converted to the Qun. He's already feared because of Petrice's death. If people start thinking he can ignore the law… I need your help to keep this from getting out of hand."

Hawke glanced over at Cat, then sighed and closed his eyes.

"I'm going to die!"

He opened his eyes, looking at Isabela in question.

"There… got your attention?" she asked him. "Real problems."

Aveline gave a disgusted noise, but she let Isabela speak.

"Remember the relic?" Isabela asked.

"How can I ever forget?" Hawke snarked.

"Well, I found it." A noise from Cat had her pausing before she continued. "A man called Wall Eyed Sam has it. If you help me get it back, Castillon won't kill me." Isabela glanced over at Cat in apology, then looked at Hawke. "Please, Hawke."

"Are you serious?!" Aveline demanded. "I'm trying to keep the entire city from rioting against the Qunari!"

Isabela started pacing around the room, watching as Cat moved toward the fireplace to pet Hafter. She was confused as to why she was so quiet, but needed to focus on the task at hand. "Well… maybe it's connected," she finally said.

"What." Aveline's tone was flat, her eyes narrowed on Isabela. Hawke was glancing back and forth between the two, unsure of what was going on, but thinking it was some sort of power struggle.

"All I'm saying is," Isabela added, "maybe it'll help. It's important to someone, right?"

"NOW, you're being responsible?!" Aveline said with wide eyes. She rubbed her face, as she took in Isabela and Cat, hoping that she wasn't reading too much into all this. She looked over at Hawke. "I need you in the morning Hawke," she said tersely. "we'll go see the Arishok."

"Very well," Hawke replied with a nod. "If you can stay, I'd like to get this relic business taken care of." He turned to Isabela. "Do you know where Wall Eyed Sam is now?" he asked her.

"I know where he'll be at midnight," she replied. "He's trying to sell off the book to the Tevinters before he gets killed over it."

"A book?" Hawke asked shrewdly. "I thought you didn't know what the relic was?"

"Okay, so I wasn't entirely forthcoming," Isabela backpedaled. "I knew it was a book, but that's all. What does it matter anyhow?" she asked tersely. "We need to get it, end of story."

"I'm going," Cat announced.

"Not a chance," Isabela replied. She glared at Cat, and Hawke looked back and forth between them, noting that Cat wasn't backing down. Isabela's eyes turned hard, and he noted that Cat looked mutinous, but eventually Isabela won out.

He thought he was getting better, but was nowhere near understanding them as yet.

"I need you to stay here, Cat," Hawke said, and she turned her angry glare on him, while Isabela looked like he had just given her a gift… or booze.

"Why?!" she demanded.

He turned to her, willing to explain… this time. "I need someone to stay with mother," he replied. "And to send Anders and Fenris after us once they get here. That's you."

Cat didn't look happy, but as she contemplated the idea, she accepted it. "Very well," she replied finally.

"Good," Hawke answered with a nod. "Where are we headed?" he asked Isabela.

"Lowtown," she replied.

"Then we'll go now, and pick up Merrill and Varric on the way," Hawke said. "I'll grab my staff." He moved past them to the stairs, and Cat waited until he was out of earshot before whirling on Isabela.

"Two things Issy," she said quietly to her friend, ensuring Aveline couldn't hear. Isabela looked at her warily. "One, the Qunari will never leave this city without their property."

"And two?" Isabela asked in a whisper.

"Please come back," Cat murmured as Hawke returned, walking down the stairs towards them.

Isabela was surprised, that was true. How does she know something that I haven't told any one?! she thought. Her hand moved over the paper in her pocket, wondering yet again if taking the relic back to Castillon alone was truly the right decision. I have to, she told herself. I can't let my past come to hurt them. She glanced over at Cat, as Hawke brushed past her to the door.

"Goodbye Kitty," she said quietly, and turned to follow him out.

I am not cut out for this, Cat told herself yet again. This waiting at home business sucks.

She continued to pet Hafter, the house feeling too quiet, since Leandra and the others were asleep. Someone needs to be here, and protect them, she thought again, reminding herself why she couldn't just go.

Sending Anders and Fenris off without going was even worse, but she did her part, and stepped outside to speak to them, giving the condensed version of what was going on. She had given it some thought, and decided not to explain about the relic and everything.

When she told them that Isabela knew where the relic was, and Hawke was headed for a fight with Tevinters in Lowtown- Fenris was already leaving, with Anders scrambling to catch up before she finished. She gave them a general direction, and warned them to be on the lookout for Qunari as well, and they were gone, and she was back to waiting.

For a time, she focused on Hafter, helping him to sit up, and start getting used to the feeling of using only one leg in the front. He sat up as long as he could, resting as needed, then trying again. She could see that he didn't like being on bed rest any more than the other warriors.

Eventually, she fell asleep, though in front of the fireplace, as she refused to leave the front room until they came back.

She was awakened by loud noises, and shook off her weariness enough to look up as the room filled with her friends around her. She glanced from face to face, and her own fell as she didn't see Isabela among them.

"Tell me the truth."

Her attention swiveled to Hawke, who was angry, she could tell from the demand, but there was something else in his eyes that she couldn't quite place.

"What truth would you like?" she asked.

Hawke took a deep breath, trying to keep calm. His anger, he knew had boiled over when he read Isabela's note, and he had realized that almost all of the problems he had been dealing with for the past year could have been avoided. If his people had just told him.

He looked at Cat, inwardly pleading that she wasn't involved with all this relic nonsense. After all, why would Isabela keep her in the dark if it were otherwise?

"Did you know what the relic was?" he asked bluntly.

"Yes," she replied, almost instantly. His eyes closed, the wound hitting a little harder than the previous one from Isabela. They used us… he thought. Until they could get what they wanted.

"Why?" he asked, painfully, looking her in the eye. Her head tilted slightly, and the confusion on her face made him snarl. "Why bother with this charade? You could have simply paid us to find the relic, and saved yourselves the trouble of all this deception."

He snarled again to himself at the hurt look she wore. How dare she?! he thought. She has no reason to act hurt, when she is one who betrayed us!

"I suppose I deserve that," she responded, looking around at the others. "But that was our decision, to keep the truth about the relic from everyone. Our friendships have nothing to do with that."

"FRIENDS don't keep the truth from each other!" Hawke protested. Realizing how loud he was, and glancing up the stairs, he lowered his voice.

"Hawke-" Several of the others started.

"No!" he cut them off with a wave. "You used all of us," he ground out through gritted teeth, pointing at her, as he stepped forward. "Causing danger and chaos throughout the city, affecting countless innocent people because of the Qunari that you brought here! And for what?! To protect yourselves from some raider?!"

He knew he had gone too far, as Cat's head snapped up, and a snarl was on her own face, but he didn't care. "Is that what you think?!" she retorted, looking from him, to the others, most of whom looked uncomfortable. "Can you blame her?" she asked, and Hawke frowned.

"Castillon will destroy everything and everyone she cares about, leaving her alive, if she doesn't bring him that book," Cat said tightly. "Do I need to spell it out for you? It's not HER life that she's protecting!"

"We could have protected you both if you would have let us!" Hawke countered. "The Qunari would have been gone, and we would have had ample time to have a plan against Castillon… but not now." He glared at her again. "What else are you keeping from me?"

Cat glared right back, then sighed, letting go of the anger. "Nothing," she said.

He stared at her a moment, before shaking his head. "If only I could believe that." He pushed past her, heading towards the stairs. "I'm going to bed," he announced to the room. "Stay if you like, we head to the Arishok as soon as we can get an audience tomorrow."

He glanced back, seeing the others following him further into the room. He noted how sad Cat looked, but thought that she had only brought it on herself.

Cat walked home, Anders by her side. Fenris offered to accompany her as well, but she knew Hawke needed the support, especially with the Arishok. She didn't want to be alone, but she didn't want to take him from Hawke either.

Honestly, she really wanted Issy, but that wasn't going to happen. And, with all the grief that Anders was still dealing with, he needed her just as much as she needed a friend right now.

"So… you're pretty quiet," Anders said as they walked into her house. He had let her brood the whole way home, but now he wanted her to get it all out.

"Yeah, sorry I am not good company right now," she replied. "Do you need anything?" she asked as they passed by the doorway heading toward the kitchen.

"No, just getting some sleep would be good," he answered. "And maybe some talking?" he asked.

She nodded as they headed up the stairs. As she thought about it, perhaps it was better that she confided in Anders, rather than Issy. She wanted to explain to someone why she didn't tell them all about the relic, and she knew Issy would be uncomfortable.

They wasted no time getting ready for bed, and she smiled as they climbed in, her in the tunic she had acquired from Hawke, and Anders in the pants he had taken as well. "You were right," she said. "Hawke isn't getting this back." She gestured towards the shirt.

He grinned back at her, "I may just agree with you this time. These are better than any pants I currently own, after all. But that's what makes me want to return them too," he said as he laid down, staring at the ceiling.

"What, like they are too good for you?" she chided him, mimicking his pose. "He's got a whole wardrobe full, remember?"

He nodded, and they lay there for a few minutes, just enjoying the company. "So," he finally spoke, "I'm curious how things went after the elf and I left you earlier. You know, before all the relic craziness."

"Fairly well, though I believe this has only proven that we are not going to be able to make things work."

He glanced over, "Why do you say that?" he asked.

"I can't be honest with him Anders," she replied. "And he knows I've already kept things from him."

"Wouldn't it make things better if you told him everything then?" he asked.

"I don't think so," she replied. "You know Hawke, he's got such a desire to make things better, to do the right thing. What do you think he would do if he found out that I know a lot more than I'm telling?"

Anders pondered that thought for a bit. "I'm not sure, but I'd guess he'd want to fix things."

"I think so too," she replied. "But the consequences could be just as dire." She reached for his hand, giving it a squeeze. "Just look at what happened to Olivia," she said softly.

"Hey, we already agreed it was a good thing that things ended differently for her," he replied, turning to look her in the eye. "Right?"

"Yes, we did," she agreed. "And I don't regret that, at all. But looking at the big picture… We hunted the necromancer because eventually Leandra would have been one of his victims."

"Really?" he asked. "I'm glad we stopped him then."

"Yes, but because of that, Gascard, his apprentice took drastic measures to find and continue his work. The Gascard I knew of wasn't a killer, and look how he ended up because he was desperate."

"That's hardly your fault," he pointed out. "He chose to go that route."

"I know… it's just… a lot, thinking of… everything," she finished lamely.

"I can understand that," he said. "Even knowing little things you have told us was extremely stressful. What if I messed something up?"

"Exactly!" she agreed, nodding. "I know you and Fenris both wonder what I know," she said. "And sometimes you wish I would tell you."

"Sometimes," he conceded. "But it isn't always a good idea to know what is coming. The smallest change can have a huge impact."

"Very true," she replied. "Sometimes… Hawke reminds me of Duran."

He frowned as he thought about that, and nodded. "I can see that," he finally replied. "The leader trying to make things right for all his people, being shoved into a place of prominence. Always doing the right thing, even when it kills them."

She smiled wryly. "Yes, like that." She paused again, but decided Anders wouldn't share her thoughts with anyone. "Sometimes, it feels as though they keep me around for my knowledge. I know that's horrible to say."

He frowned again, thinking it over. "I can see how you may think that," he said. "But I know the commander too, and he doesn't suffer anyone he doesn't like just because they may be useful." He gave her hand a squeeze then. "Your friends like you for you. Your knowledge is just a perk, you know," he said with a chuckle. "If someone is hurt, my friends will ask me to help," he reasoned. "And in certain situations, they will ask you to help."

"I can see that," she said as she nodded along. "Thanks Anders."

"No problem," he said as he gave her a wink. "We're your friends, Cat. If we're pushing too much, just let us know. We don't want you to feel like you're being used."

"I guess you're right," she said sheepishly. "I feel a little silly for thinking that way."

"Nobody is perfect," he replied with a smile. "Not even Hawke or the commander."

"He was really upset," Cat said sadly. "I didn't know what to say."

"You could have said that Isabela insisted," he muttered.

"And put all the blame on her?" she asked, with a glance at him. "No, I knew, and said nothing, though not because of being afraid of Castillon."

"Oh?" he asked. "then why?"

"Sometimes bad things happen," she shrugged. "But are the best things for us in the long run. They help make us stronger."

"You did say something a while back about needing to be stronger," he said slowly.

"Yeah," she muttered. "We'd better get some sleep. We'll need it for tomorrow."

He squeezed her hand again, getting her attention. "Cat, do me a favor?" he asked.

"Of course," she replied.

"Don't close yourself off. You never know what can happen if you're open to the possibilities."

Cat wasn't surprised that it seemed to be late afternoon by the time she woke up. They had gotten to bed right before sunrise after all. She smiled at Anders' sprawled figure on the bed, and eased herself out so as not to awaken him.

It was another hour before Anders made his way downstairs, looking for food. She smiled at his bedhead, and announced they would have to get food in the market, since they hadn't bought anything in awhile.

Heading out, they argued good naturedly about where the best food was, and conceding to him though stipulating that the Hanged Man was not an option, they made their way to Lowtown.

Cat glanced over, seeing another small group of Qunari pass by.

"There seem to be a lot of Qunari out in the city today," Anders commented, and Cat took him by surprise, pushing him into an alleyway. "Cat?!-" he started, before she covered his mouth with her hand.

"Shh," she said quietly. "Just listen, okay?" she looked at him as he nodded, and she dropped her hand. Glancing out around the corner of the alley, she began speaking quickly. "This is bad," she said quietly, her eyes on the lookout for the Qunari. "I think they are getting into position."

"Position for what?" he asked, getting close so that he could see what she was looking at.

"See them?" she asked, and he focused where she was pointing. "There, and there. And we passed three separate groups on the way here, heading into Hightown."

"We did?" he asked. "What are they doing?"

"They're going to take over the city," she said matter-of-factly.

"What?!" he hissed at her.

"They are spreading out throughout the city in small groups so they don't cause panic. And then they will attack all at once, taking the city without much trouble." She looked around again. "I guess Hawke wasn't successful in his talks with the Arishok."

"We need to find Hawke," Anders said firmly. "He'll need us."

"Yes, he will," she agreed. "But there's something we need to do first."

Cat had Anders leading the way, pushing Leandra and Orana at a fast pace. "I'm sorry, I'm slowing you all down," Leandra huffed, as she stopped for breath again.

"In here," Anders said, leading them into an alcove filled with shadows. The sunset filled the sky with bright pink and purple colors, but none of them looked up to appreciate it.

"Don't worry mistress, we won't leave you behind," Orana said softly, and Leandra smiled at her.

"I'll be all right, it's just been awhile since I ran for my life," she quipped, and Cat chuckled.

"Let us know when you are ready," she told Leandra. "I think once we get out of Hightown we can slow a little."

The older woman took a few deep breaths, and nodded to Cat. "Let's go."

Cat nodded to Anders who looked around yet again, and led the party out, with Cat taking the rear. She moved her eyes constantly, keeping watch for any that would impede them.

Moving swiftly, they made it to the large stairs, where Hightown changed to Lowtown. Anders moved back to offer Leandra his arm, and Cat and Orana moved behind them. They started down as they heard the first screams behind them, causing them all to flinch.

"It's begun," Orana said, shivering.

"Let's keep moving, and get you both to safety," Cat said, her eyes meeting Anders'. Nodding to each other, they moved down the stairs rapidly, and started on a winding path towards the Hanged Man.

"Where are we going?" Leandra asked quietly as they stopped for another break. Cat and Anders blocked the women from view in the alley as they kept a look out.

"We're taking you to Varric's," Cat answered. "The Qunari will only bother with the nobles at first, and hopefully we can meet up with Garrett and stop all of this before it reaches the tavern."

"It's the safest place we can think of," Anders said. "And a sort of unofficial meeting place for Hawke's crew. The Qunari will never be looking for a noble there, and the patrons will help keep you from being noticed," he added.

"No one expects nobles there," Cat said with a smirk. "Hawke is able to keep a pretty low profile." She looked back at the other women. "We'll leave soon, just hold tight," she said, then inched closer to Anders. "They're everywhere," she whispered to him.

"I know," he replied softly, not wanting to worry the other two. "And unlike Hightown, here they are just destroying everything in their path."

"You're not going to like this…" she warned.

"If you try to tell me you are going to be the decoy…" he grumbled, turning to her with narrowed eyes.

"It's the only way," she insisted. "I can lose them easily, and meet back up with you. Besides, they won't want me."

He closed his eyes and sighed. "Unfortunately, I don't see any other option." He turned her to face him, putting his hands on her shoulders in order to get her to look him in the eyes. "You're faster than I am, so it makes more sense, but Maker's breath, if you die on me…" he stopped and she could see the panic in his eyes.

"Not going to happen," she reassured him. "No contact, just going to run to get their attention, and let you slip out behind them."

"You're what?!" Leandra said, having heard the last part of their conversation since they hadn't whispered. "There has to be another way!"

"Shh!" Anders and Cat shushed her, and looked out in worry, releasing a sigh when nothing happened.

"We can't make it if she doesn't," Anders said softly. "She's very adept, there won't be a problem."

"Right," Cat agreed, then moved her cloak to show her daggers on her thighs. "And I have these just in case." She looked at the women, nodding to them. "Keep close to Anders, he can protect you," she told them. "I'll meet you at the tavern." They nodded in return, and Cat moved to the mouth of the alley, looking around. "Actually," she said to Anders, "Can you give me a boost?"

She pointed up to the roof tops, and he smiled at her, happy that she would be that much further from harm. He held out his hands, clasped together, and she put her foot on them, jumping as he flung his hands up- giving her a boost onto the roof. They watched as she climbed up and over, and was quickly out of sight.

It wasn't long before they heard the noises, and several Qunari passed the alley. Holding out his hand, Anders gestured for them to follow, and he sped off with them further into Lowtown.

Cat cursed her rotten luck. Not only had her little diversion worked, but it had worked far too well. Now she had several Qunari chasing her, and using their numbers to trap her. It was as if they had her scent or something, as she couldn't seem to lose them.

She did what any friend would, and took them far from the others. She was practically back to Hightown, and she raced forward, knowing there was a large gap between the roofs of the two towns. She would have to make it through there before the Qunari in order to stand a chance of escape.

Sliding down a column, she ran with everything she had. Her saving grace was that the Qunari weren't trying to kill her, they were trying to catch her. She slid several times on the ground like a professional baseball player to avoid being caught, and after seeing one fo them almost snatch her hair, she held her braid close.

She could see her way out up ahead, a staircase leading to Hightown that had several fancy pillars that she could easily climb. She pushed forward, focused on her goal.

She didn't know what flattened her, just that she was on the ground, being pushed into the stones so hard that she thought her spine might crack.

The pressure released, and she moved, trying to get up again, and the pressure returned, and she groaned at the pain. When it released again, she flipped over, hoping to avoid it the third time if she could see what it was.

The pressure fell on her again, and stole the breath from her lungs as it massively pushed on her body. She moaned as she moved her head to the side, spitting out the blood in her mouth, as the Saarebas came towards her.

She heard a few guttural words spoken, and the qunari mage stopped his advance, and her eyes closed.

She wanted to open her eyes, but she was having such a hard time getting them to respond to the demands of her thoughts. She focused on her other senses, trying to get a clear picture of where she was and what was happening.

Her head was swimming, and her body jarred, causing her head to move up, then down again hitting against something hard. She involuntarily groaned, the dizzy sensation becoming pain.

As she was able to focus, she realized that it wasn't her head that was swimming… it was her body that was moving. She finally cracked her eyes open, seeing the large gray body in front of her, with her leg up in the air.

I'm being dragged off, like some hunter's game! She thought, insulted at the very thought. Taking quick stock of herself, she smirked at their overconfidence, having left her armed. Bad move… she thought angrily.

Grabbing her dagger, she waited for the right moment, and swung her upper body up, and sliced the Qunari's hand that held her. He immediately dropped her leg with a yelp, and turning, sneered at her, his companions turning as well.

She didn't understand all their words, but enough to know they thought her entertaining. She rolled away to avoid being snatched again, and got to her feet. She was still slightly dizzy, but she pulled her other dagger out and got into a fighting stance.

Cat knew exactly three Qunari phrases by heart. One, was spoken by the Iron Bull after fighting a dragon. The second, was more for making friends with a qunari. But the third… would do nicely in this situation.

"Kadanshok defransdim vashedan!" she shouted, as she beckoned them forward. The one whose hand she had cut sneered at her, while the other two smirked. Definitely finding me entertaining, she thought. Especially telling them I'm going to wound their genitals with my foot.

Three against one wasn't her favorite fight, but she knew how to fight dirty, and they thought she was simply a woman who couldn't fight. After killing the first of them and kicking him in the crotch on the way, they started using more of their actual strength, and Cat started to worry.

By the time she drove her daggers into the second one, she knew she was in trouble. She barely moved fast enough to avoid the swing of a great sword, but let go of her daggers in order to move. Now she faced the third, much more angry Qunari, and she was without her weapons.

She employed all her acrobatic skill to avoid his lunges, and the reach of his sword. Due to its weight, so was able to avoid his swings, but because of his reach, she couldn't get close to him in order to do any damage with the small knife in her boot.

She left it there for now, wanting to keep the element of surprise in case she needed it. Moving forward, she slid between his legs as he swung his sword forward again, and jumped up on his back. With no plan in place, she was trying to choke him with her arm, and she could hear him laugh at the attempt.

She looked up just in time to see the sword coming back at her, and she let go, falling to the ground. He barely stopped himself from cutting his own back, and she rolled away again to keep her distance.

"The Arishok has questions for you, thief," the qunari growled at her, and her face paled as she realized what he said.

How do they know who I am?! she thought desperately. Crap! I need to get away from him!

Her hesitation cost her, however, as he moved quickly, dropping his sword and grabbing at her. He caught her leg and pulled her forward, his other hand wrapping around her throat as she kicked and thrashed around.

"You fight as one who knows their fate," he sneered. She glared up at him, going still, not willing to give him the satisfaction, and she reached for her boot. As close as she was now, she should be able to do plenty of damage.

Before she could strike, she heard the twang of a bow, and just as suddenly, the qunari had an arrow protruding from his eye. She felt the blood splatter on her face, and she squirmed, as the big man began to fall, the arrow going so deep as to kill him instantly.

His hand was still grabbing her, and she fell with him, grateful that he broke her fall, and she pried open his hand to free herself, taking a few deep breaths as soon as she was free.

"Can you stand?"

Cat looked up, seeing the hand in front of her, and focusing on the man attached to it. He was most definitely a fighter, the bow across his shoulders not the only indication. He fit the description of tall, dark and handsome and she found herself a little in awe. She nodded, and said, "I just need a minute."

The man smiled gently at her, and her heart did a little flip at the gesture. "Take what time you need my lady," he said, his voice deep and gravelly. "Between the two of us, I believe we have cleared the block."

She reached up and took his hand, and stood, noting that he stayed close in case she wobbled. She nodded, and moved over to the second body to retrieve her daggers. "I should thank you, for saving me, I suppose," she said, as she wiped them off and put them back in their sheaths.

"You don't need to," he replied with a smirk. "In fact, I could have helped sooner but was enjoying the show."

She smirked back, enjoying his humor, as it reminded her of Zevran. "I knew I wanted to meet you, Nathaniel."